Mountain Views News, Sierra Madre Edition [Pasadena] Saturday, November 24, 2018

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EDUCATION & YOUTH 

Mountain Views-News Saturday, November 24, 2018 

MONROVIA UNIFIED 2018 TEACHER OF THE YEAR 

HONORED AT BOARD MEETING

SCHOOL DIRECTORY


Alverno Heights Academy

200 N. Michillinda Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3463 Head of School: Julia V. Fanara

E-mail address: jfanara@alvernoheights.org

Arcadia High School

180 Campus Drive Arcadia, CA 91007

Phone: (626) 821-8370, Principal: Brent Forsee

bforsee@ausd.net

Arroyo Pacific Academy

41 W. Santa Clara St. Arcadia, Ca, 

(626) 294-0661 Principal: Phil Clarke

E-mail address: pclarke@arroyopacific.org

Barnhart School

240 W. Colorado Blvd Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 446-5588 

Head of School: Ethan Williamson

Kindergarten - 8th grade

website: www.barnhartschool.org

Bethany Christian School

93 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-3527 

Preschool-TK-8th Grade

Principal: Dr. William Walner

website: www. bcslions.org

Clairbourn School

8400 Huntington Drive

San Gabriel, CA 91775

Phone: 626-286-3108 ext. 172

FAX: 626-286-1528

E-mail: jhawes@clairbourn.org

Foothill Oaks Academy

822 E. Bradbourne Ave., Duarte, CA 91010

(626) 301-9809

Principal: Nancy Lopez

www.foothilloaksacademy.org

office@foothilloaksacademy.org

Frostig School

971 N. Altadena Drive Pasadena, CA 91107

(626) 791-1255

Head of School: Jenny Janetzke

Email: jenny@frostig.org

The Gooden School

192 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-2410 

Head of School, Carl Parke 

website: www.goodenschool.org

High Point Academy

1720 Kinneloa Canyon Road 

Pasadena, Ca. 91107 

Head of School: Gary Stern 626-798-8989

website: www.highpointacademy.org

La Salle High School

3880 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 351-8951 website: www.lasallehs.org

Principal Mrs. Courtney Kassakhian

Monrovia High School

325 East Huntington Drive, Monrovia, CA 91016 

(626) 471-2800 Principal Darvin Jackson

Email: schools@monrovia.k12.ca.us

Odyssey Charter School

725 W. Altadena Dr. Altadena, Ca. 91001

(626) 229-0993 Head of School: Lauren O’Neill

website: www.odysseycharterschool.org

Pasadena High School

2925 E. Sierra Madre Blvd. Pasadena, Ca. 

(626) 396-5880 Principal: Roberto Hernandez

website: http://phs.pusd.us

St. Rita Catholic School

322 N. Baldwin Ave. Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

Principal Joan Harabedian (626) 355-9028 

website: www.st-rita.org

Sierra Madre Elementary School

141 W. Highland Ave, Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 355-1428 Principal: Lindsay Lewis

E-mail address: lewis.lindsay@pusd.us

Sierra Madre Middle School 

160 N. Canon Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024

(626) 836-2947 Principal: Garrett Newsom

E-mail address: newsom.garrett@pusd.us

Walden School

74 S San Gabriel Blvd

Pasadena, CA 91107 (626) 792-6166 

www.waldenschool.net

Weizmann Day School

1434 N. Altadena Dr. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 797-0204

Lisa Feldman: Head of School

Wilson Middle School

300 S. Madre St. Pasadena, Ca. 91107

(626) 449-7390 Principal: Ruth Esseln

E-mail address: resseln@pusd.us

Pasadena Unified School District

351 S. Hudson Ave., Pasadena, Ca. 91109

(626) 396-3600 Website: www.pusd@pusd.us

Arcadia Unified School District

234 Campus Dr., Arcadia, Ca. 91007

(626) 821-8300 Website: www.ausd.net

Monrovia Unified School District

325 E. Huntington Dr., Monrovia, Ca. 91016

(626) 471-2000 

Website: www.monroviaschools.net

Duarte Unified School District

1620 Huntington Dr., Duarte, Ca. 91010

(626)599-5000 

Website: www.duarte.k12.ca.us

Arcadia Christian School

1900 S. Santa Anita Avenue Arcadia, CA 91006

Preschool - and TK - 8th Grade

626-574-8229/626-574-0805

Email: inquiry@acslions.com

Principal: Cindy Harmon

website: www.acslions.com

Rebecca Alarcon (center), who was honored as Teacher of the Year during Monrovia Unified’s board 
meeting on Nov. 14, stands with her Wild Rose School of Creative Arts family, who brought flowers and 
gifts to celebrate her achievement. 

MONROVIA, CA – Rebecca Alarcon, a special 
education teacher at Wild Rose School of Creative 
Arts, engages students with sing-alongs throughout 
the day and creates an atmosphere of trust in her 
classroom, an approach that has garnered her 
Monrovia Unified’s 2018 Teacher of the Year Award. 

Family, friends, teachers, and administrators filled 
the Monrovia Unified Board Room on Nov. 14, 
bringing flowers and gifts to honor Alarcon, teacher 
of 10 years, for the achievement. 

 Alarcon teaches transitional kindergarten 
through second grade and recognizes the challenges 
students face every day. By approaching each student 
individually and taking time to listen, she ensures 
her students are feeling heard and understood. 

 “I think she is really nice,” first-grader Katie 
Rodriguez said. “She works with us and I enjoy 
having her as a teacher because she always makes 
the classroom fun. I like that we get tokens for 
answering questions and participating because 
then we get a prize from the treasure chest, and 
that’s exciting.” 

 Alarcon, who grew up in Monrovia and attended 
Wild Rose, refers to herself as a “proud Monrovian.” 
She credits many of her Monrovia educators for 
inspiring her to become a teacher. 

 “It is because of all of them that I am who I am 
today,” Alarcon said. “I teach because I am passionate 
about it, and being at Wild Rose makes is that much 
more special for me. I am thankful to have the 
opportunity to play such an important role in my 
students’ life but, most importantly, thankful that 
you all trust me to lead our students down a path 
of success.” 

 A typical day in Alarcon’s classroom consists of 
lessons that are differentiated to meet the needs of 
the students, as well as support engagement in the 
common core standards. Alarcon starts each day 
with a morning meeting where students are greeted 
with learning experiences about the calendar and 
tracking weather patterns. 

 “We are proud of Rebecca Alarcon for being 
an inspiration to her students as a former student, 
parent and now teacher, and showing them that 
anything is possible,” Board President Terrence 
Williams said. “Monrovia Unified is lucky to have 
an educator like her, who always puts the needs of 
her students first before anything else.” 

 During the board meeting, Alarcon was 
recognized by Monrovia’s Board of Education, 
personnel commissioners, Wild Rose Principal 
Leslie Rapkine-Miller, and Superintendent 
Katherine Thorossian. She was presented with 
flowers, gifts, and a certificate. 

 “Monrovia Unified prides itself in having 
educators who are dedicated to students and have 
a deep passion for what they do,” Superintendent 
Katherine Thorossian said. “Becky’s commitment, 
enthusiasm, and expertise reflect the very best of 
Monrovia’s teachers.” 

THE GOOD LIFE

SENIOR HAPPENINGS

HOW TO GET VETERANS’ FUNERAL AND BURIAL 
BENEFITS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! ….November Birthdays

Flo Mankin, Alberta Curran, Carmela Frontino, Kathy Wood, Lena Zate, Joe Pergola, 
Janice Kacer, Valerie Howard, “Mike” Ruggles, Joan Ruggles, Lois Stueck, Jean Wood, 
Shirley Yergeau, Kathi Jefferson, Pat Krok, Irene Nakagawa, Anna Ross, Mary Steinberg 
and Sue Quinn. * To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper at 
626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required but you must be over 60.

 

HART PARK HOUSE MONTHLY PROGRAMS: 
Unless listed differently, all activities are at the Hart Park House (Senior Center) 222 
W. Sierra Madre Blvd., Sierra Madre

Hawaiian & Polynesian Dance Class: Every Tuesday Morning from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. 
Join the class with Instructor Barbara Dempsey as she leads you in the art of Hula! 

Bingo Time: Every Tuesday beginning at 1:00 p.m. Cards are only $0.25 each! Everyone is welcome to play! Activity 
may be canceled if there are less than five people. 

Free Blood Pressure Testing: 2nd Tuesdays Monthly from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. No appointment is necessary. 

Brain Games: Thursday, November 15th 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. Join us for Scattergories, a creative thinking game by 
naming objects within a set of categories; or Jenga, a block-building challenge that keeps you stacking and balancing 
your tower. Everyone is welcome, and no experience is needed. A great way to strengthen your mind and make new 
friends... Games are facilitated by Senior Volunteers. 

Free Legal Consultation: Wednesday, November 14th from 10:30 a.m. - Noon. Attorney Lem Makupson is available 
for legal consultation. Specializing in Family Law, Wills, Trusts, Estates and Injury. Please call the Hart Park House for 
an appointment, 626-355-5278 ext. 704. 

Senior Club: Meets Saturdays Monthly at Hart Park House… Brown Bag Lunch and great company at 11:30 a.m. 

Chair Yoga: Mondays & Wednesdays 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. with Paul Hagen. Classes include Yoga and balance exercises. 
All ability levels are encouraged and welcomed! * Voluntary Donations of $5.00 per week per participant are suggested 
but not required. 

Birthday Celebration: Every 2nd Thursday Monthly at the Hart Park House. Share free birthday cake and ice cream 
kindly provided by the Senior Community Commission! 

Game Day: Every Thursday Monthly 12:00 Noon come into the Hart Park House and join a lively poker game with 
friends! 

Free Strength Training Class: Fridays 12:45 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. with Lisa Brandley. This energetic class utilizes light weights, 
low impact resistance training and body conditioning. Class equipment provided. 

Save the Date: Senior Excursion, Wednesday, Dec. 19th to Rogers Gardens in Corona Del Mar. 

Dear Savvy Senior,

Does the VA provide any special burial benefits to old 
veterans? My dad, who has late-stage Parkinson’s disease, 
served during the Vietnam War in the 1960s.

Only Child

Dear Only,

Most U.S. veterans are eligible for burial and memorial 
benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs 
(VA) National Cemetery Administration. Veterans 
who were discharged under conditions other than 
dishonorable are eligible. To verify your dad’s discharge, 
you’ll need a copy of his DD Form 214 “Certificate of 
Release or Discharge from Active Duty,” which you can 
request online at Archives.gov/veterans. 

 Here’s a rundown of some of the different benefits 
that are available to veterans that die a nonservice related 
death. 

National Cemetery Benefits

If your dad is eligible, and would like to be buried in 
one of the 136 national or 111 grant-funded state and 
tribal VA cemeteries (see www.cem.va.gov/cem/cems/
listcem.asp for a list), the VA provides a host of benefits, 
at no cost to the family, including: a gravesite; opening 
and closing of the grave; perpetual gravesite care; a 
government headstone or marker; a United States burial 
flag that can be used to drape the casket or accompany 
the urn (after the funeral service; the flag is given to the 
next-of-kin as a keepsake); and a presidential memorial 
certificate. 

 National cemetery burial benefits are also available to 
spouses and dependents of veterans.

 If your dad is cremated, his remains will be buried or 
inurned in the same manner as casketed remains.

 Funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are 
not, however, taken care of by the VA. They are the 
responsibility of the veteran’s family, but some veteran’s 
survivors are eligible for burial allowances, which are 
explained below. 

If you’re interested in this option, the VA offers a preneed 
burial eligibility determination program at www.
cem.va.gov/pre-need or call the National Cemetery 
Scheduling Office at 800-535-1117.

Private Cemetery Benefits

If your father is going to be buried in a private cemetery, 
the benefits available include a free government 
headstone or marker, or a medallion that can be affixed 
to an existing privately purchased headstone or marker; 
a burial flag; and a Presidential memorial certificate. 

 Funeral or cremation arrangements and costs are 
again the responsibility of the family (some burial 
allowances may be available), and there are no benefits 
offered to spouses and dependents that are buried in 
private cemeteries.

Military Funeral Honors

Another popular benefit available to all eligible veterans 
buried in either a national or private cemetery is a 
military funeral honors ceremony. This includes an 
honor guard detail of at least two uniformed military 
persons, folding and presenting the U.S. burial flag to the 
veteran’s survivors, and the playing of Taps by a bugler or 
an electronic recording.

 The funeral provider you choose will be able to assist 
you with all VA burial requests. Depending on what you 
want, certain forms may need to be completed which are 
always better to be done in advance. 

 For a complete rundown of burial and memorial 
benefits, eligibility details and required forms, visit www.
cem.va.gov or call 800-827-1000. 

Burial Allowances

In addition to the burial benefits, some veteran’s 
survivors may also qualify for a $300 burial allowance 
(or $780 if hospitalized by VA at time of death) and $780 
for a plot, to those who choose to be buried in a private 
cemetery. To find out if your dad is eligible, see Benefits.
va.gov/benefits/factsheets/burials/burial.pdf. 

 To apply for burial allowances, you’ll need to fill out 
VA Form 21P-530 “Application for Burial Benefits.” You 
need to attach a copy of your dad’s discharge document 
(DD 214 or equivalent), death certificate, funeral and 
burial bills. They should show that you have paid them 
in full. You may download the form at VA.gov/vaforms.

 Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 
5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim 
Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author 
of “The Savvy Senior” book.


SENIOR MOVIE: 1st and 3rd Wednesdays Monthly 1:00 p.m.

November 7th The Greatest Showman PG

 Rated - PG 1hr 45 min 

Inspired by the imagination of P.T. Barnum, the Greatest Showman is an original musical 
that celebrates the birth of show business and tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to 
create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation. 

November 21st Pirates of the Carribean - Dead Men Tell No Tales

 Rated - PG-13 1hr 59 min 

When deadly ghost pirates led by his old nemesis, the terrifying Captain Salazar escape from the Devil’s Triangle, 
determined to kill every pirate at sea, Captain Jack Sparrow’s only hope for survival lies in seeking out the legendary 
Trident of Poseidon, the powerful artifact bestows upon its possessor total control over the sea. 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com